Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,359 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,991 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,622 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Bethesda, MD costs about 100% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bethesda, MD and Medellin sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 146%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.40 $20.40

$8.02 COP 25.0K

154.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$47.87 COP 149.4K

111.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.89 COP 30.8K

10.52%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$3.13 COP 9,767

79.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.91 COP 5,954

60.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.51 COP 4,712

67.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$3.12 COP 9,747

128.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.78 $8.78

$5.75 COP 17.9K

52.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.44 COP 4,509

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.49 COP 7,759

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.77 COP 5,535

114.12%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.96 COP 9,235

54.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.18 $17.18

$10.07 COP 31.4K

70.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.44 $15.44

$10.12 COP 31.6K

52.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.93 $22.93

$14.30 COP 44.6K

60.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.14 COP 12.9K

12.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.61 COP 5,019

-13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.25 COP 7,007

86.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.25 COP 7,028

84.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.04 COP 6,375

9.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.54 COP 4,790

79.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.17 COP 3,651

95.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.31 COP 4,077

95.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.50 $10.50

$3.90 COP 12.2K

169.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.03 $18.03

$14.01 COP 43.7K

28.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.74 COP 5,439

-1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.87 COP 8,956

2.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.22 COP 3,792

143.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.4 $98.4

$80.5 COP 251.1K

22.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.31 COP 4,084

210.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.19 COP 6,825

-44.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.81 $24.81

$8.71 COP 27.2K

184.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.37 COP 4,260

-32.12%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K $22.8K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-18.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-30.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$166 $166

$177 COP 553.2K

-6.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$38.47 $38.47

$13.88 COP 43.3K

177.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$29.72 COP 92.8K

109.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$103 $103

$44.88 COP 140.1K

130.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.47 $30.47

$17.12 COP 53.4K

77.98%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$6.65 COP 20.7K

139.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$813 COP 2.5M

96.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.1K $36.1K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

293.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.7 $68.7

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-23.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 $57.0

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-3.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$138 COP 431.2K

-26.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$102 COP 318.7K

44.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 $2,323

$1,062 COP 3.3M

118.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 $1,897

$663 COP 2.1M

186.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,998 $3,998

$1,888 COP 5.9M

111.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,167 $3,167

$1,027 COP 3.2M

208.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,042 $6,042

$4,183 COP 13.1M

44.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,278 $5,278

$1,675 COP 5.2M

215.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,807 $8,807

$678 COP 2.1M

1199.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

10.94

-42.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bethesda, MD: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,323 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1200% higher in Bethesda, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Bethesda, MD versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $456 vs $305 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bethesda, MD vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,038 per month in Bethesda, MD and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Bethesda, MD and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,359 in Bethesda, MD and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Bethesda, MD at $3,359. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethesda, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethesda, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.